Electrically-operated fountain.



N0. 871,191. PATENTED NOV. 19, 1907.

A. D. SUTHAM.

BLBCTRICALLY OPERATED FOUNTAIN.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4. 1906.

4 SHEETS-51122151.

56 i5 @L .J5 Ma UMA-r K PATENTED NOV. 191.1907 A. D. SOUTHAM.ELECTRICALLY OPERATED FOUNTAIN.

APPLTCATION PLED AUG.4.1'0G.

Hoz nur No. 871,191. PATBNTED Nov. 19. 1907.

A. D. SOUTHAM. ELECTRICALLY OPERA'IED FOUNTAIN.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.4,1'906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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I @ivi/b4 losco l W05 PATENTE-:D Nov. 19, 1907. A. D. SOUTHAM.BLBCTRICALLY OPERATED FOUNTAIN.

APPLICATIO FILED AUG. 4. 1.906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4,

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UNITED STATES PATE T DEFI ELECTRICALLYOPERATED FOUNTAIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 19, 1907.

Application tiled An' 151:4, 1906. Serial Nc. 329.157.

To all whom may concern.:

`Be it known that l, Aiiriii'ii DUDLEY Sou'riiAiu, a citizen of theUnited States of America, residing at llighland Court., city and countyof Hartford, State of Connecticut, have. invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Electrically-Operated Fountains, of which the followingis a specification, reference heilig had therein to the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure .t is a central vertical sectional view ofthe apparatus; Fig. 2 a horizontal sectional view on thcline ll--ll ofFig. l; Fig. 3 a bottom plan view of the transmission disk; Fig. 4 atransverse sci-tional viev.v thereof; Fig. 5 an enlarged verticalsectional vview of the nozzle; Fig. ti a similar View of a slightlydillerent form of discharge pipe;

Fig. 7 a detail vertical sectional view of a ortion of the pump casingtaken on a line H-VH of Fig. 2; Fig. 8 at.'aiLsverse vertical sectionalview showing a slightly dill'erentv arrangement. of the contact pointsfor completing the eleetiic circuit; Fig. 9a vertical sectional viewshowing a slightly iltler ent forni of basin, and motor containingcasing or sup ort; Fig. lt) a vertical sectional view of a s ightlydill'erent forni of luhricating means; and Fig. ll another foim oflubricating device. Fig. l2 an enlarged detail sectional view of themotor-shaft support shown in Fig. t); and Fig. 13 a detail horizontalsectional view thereof.

This invention relatcsto fountains in gcneral, .but more ,particularlyto small fountains designed for table and indoor use and decoration.

f" T he invention has for one of its objects to provide a fountain otartistic and pleasing desi in which will be contained means for forcingthe water upwards to form the jet or jets; and means whereby the wateror other liquid contained in the fountain may inrFurthermore, the.fountain is portable `and.

he' forced through the jet or jets over and overv again. By being thuscontinuouslv circulated through the fountain, there. will be no waste(except from eviqwration), and ,no possibility of leakage, and `thefluid 1mav be perfumed or tinted, et' both, :is-desired.

can be readily moved at pleasure.

A further object of the invention is to-so `locate and connect the pumpand motor that no fixe or accurate ahnement h v means of '15 n. union,togglefjoint or coupling is necessary to ad just the position of themotor andpump and their'shai'ts; also, so that the motor may beseparated from the pump, at any time for the purpose of repairs,adjustment or oiling; and so that on replacing the motor, the pump. andmotor will at once be located in correct alinenient. A

A further object of the invention is to provide thc motor shaft withmeans of lubrication, so that there will he no necessity for oiling thesa me for lengthy eriods.

Another object of t e invention is to deaden or eliminate an i noise or"huin which may he produced by the motor, so that the fountain operatessilently.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for making theelectric connection between the electric mechanism in thc fountain andthe outside source of supply; and particularly, to establish electricconnection when the fountain is lar-cd on n table, so that. visiblewires are lis )ensed with, and without having to inaterialllyinjure thetable cloth or cover b v making holes through which the connecting wireswould otherwise have to he passed.

A further object of-thc invention is to provide a simple and etliciciitcombination of motor and pump for fountains which may be clica I vconstructed and silent in action, and capa le ot' operating for lengthyperiods without requiring attention or lubricating, with 'means forobtainiiig access to the mechanism when necessai'v.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Referring to the various arts by numerals, 1 desivnates the pedesta' orcasing which is adapted to contain the operating apparatus. An electricmotor 2 is arranged within 'this casing and is preferably suspended fromthe top thereof, by means of a screw head 3, to which is connected themotor frame 4. The to i of this casing preferably forms an integral partof the bottoni of basin 1", in which the pump is placed, so thattheinotor will be suspended from the bottom of the basin. One of theobjects of thus suspend-4 ing the motor, is to have the motor shaft 'asshort as possible. The suspended motor frame 4 is provided with abottoni piece 5 in the center of which is formed an upward extendingstationary centerimY pin or thrust block 6. This motor frame alsocarries the field magnet coils' The armature S is 'i hy n verticalshaft. D which extends filly upward through the screw head 2%, thearmature ooit extending downwsrd from the end oi sind shnt- :ind fittingproperlj.Y within the tieid coils. XVithin the arlnnture coil isurrunged :L depending tubular puri itt of the. shut't, this tubular partiitting wer the stutionnry centering pin carried b3' then"iter-supporting frame. Around the centering pin is formed n cup i1into which the rnhulzir part 1U of the armature slntt't extends. thelower end ot' this tubulin* part, of the shuftresting on the. liottoinof said ono. This @up is somewhat larger than the tuhnhir extension ofthe 'armature shaft und i: adapted to he filled with oil or grease, thebot" n o1 said @up taking the thrust of sind It will, therefore, 'neseen that the arms; ure is suspended hy its sha't and that, the uit or)ease-cup and thrust block :1re protected by thc'aruiuture. Theelectrifcircui is completed through wires 12, oonnected' to the motorand to the contact,-

plutes .73 arranged in the hott-oni of the. snpportirzg casing.n'otorsupporting traine is entirely suspended from the top ot' thecasing, or the bottom of the basin, and does not touch the casing at anyother point. Y

The screw head 3 is formed with an up wurd extending tubular pnrt 14through which e 'tends the shaftV of the armature, d ,ular partextending within the basin to u pointy above the proposed water leveltherein. This tubular part excludes water from the. casing 1 Aand serves:1s a. guide und centering means for the arinaure shaft.

The pump l empoy in this fountain is of the centrifugal type andpreferilhly is provi ed Ywith u ,'lnnlity of properiy curved mid blu es,The puntp consists of a entrai tuhuiar .shaft- 15 v-fiich is adopted toht, over the extension 14 of the screw henri. The .1 r end oth theshat't is piovided wit;A

ed aperture whic?L sdfipted to rethrended upper end of the urinar slit.und ny look nut. 'if'e holh'fw' sii-:tft is of .sntcierit tength topermit the binde. lo; w1 -h :are seeured to :he iower cud t. zo rota-teclose 'to the f ot im of Li hns-n. in the bottom of the basin i-f wurdwending founder flange i? the Dump ti. ll'it T115; with n zblecorer 1%er this eux e." ein zprrarxi tension E l :s stunned, this extension 'pning si: t' lite upper end ofthe Emilien.' snsft ig the sinne. In thecover it thc tnhni )am it?, num-Jer of It. will he noted that, the

will pass from smid cus-ing to the outlet pipe 22 which lends upward tothe dischurge noz zie 23. projectingr wull 21"* which is purallel withthe outer wull of the cusingt'orins n channel 22 leading totht-discharge out- 70 let. The bottoni of thi.`l channel is intlinedupward to flic discharge outlet :is illustrated in Fig. T. 'ihe witterfrom the pump passes into this` ehunnel :ind then upward into the pipe22 :is will he reudil)v understood. The 7 inlet holes 2() :irepreferably covered hy :t struiner or filter 24 to prevent foreign mutterpassin! in to the pump casing. The purpose` of this is to prevent thetine jets or nozzles from becoming choked. 80

'l`o reguatc the discharge I provide the regulating nozzle 123. Thisnozze is secured on the upper end of the discharge pipe 22 und consistsol' u screw cup .26 provia'ted with upc-rt ures in its top. The nozzie23 is forinefl S5 with 21v downwurdj. eninrgiug portion 2T und at theupper end of this enturgingportion perf oruions 2S are formed. The capis provided :it tower end with n lured part 29 which is adapted to titcioseig' on the outer 90 surnhe of the eniargemeut 27, and. therebyclose the perlorntions .Z. Itwill thus he seen that h z adjusting thecup 2S on the end ot' the nozze 23 the discharge through thepert'orniions S nur. he iegutnted. ln this 95 wn". the nozzle 11111;,lie used us u pump-check or governor. B). unserewing the cap from theen-:i of the nozzle water witl pass-freely through 'the )erforaions '2Sund thence downward, und he discharged t` rom under the 10( iower end ofthe cup. Ot eourse, hlt screwing the cap down, sai'i apt-r2 nies nur..he entireiy closed. In this wir. the amount of water passim; through thejet openings in the top of :he nozzle nur le regulated. "ithin 10J' thenozzle l'f-ow the apertures 2R is ar-4 ranged n strainer or lter 30.Supported on the pump easing is un uppelsnmiler basin 31 into which thediseharge from the perforations 2S oi: the no overflow from sitio :1mini sm he ow.

C is shot-:n En arrangement of the;

` :he ja@ teguiating device is temp. In this formof the 11' 'ge ipe isprovided with an and perforations 2S near -On tli' pipe und adapted to pevi-ions is :i reguuting seeve (ennui h 'die flaring port 120". The. 12(

v ol this fort!! of the' .'f'eviee is ex- ."orllj. ns that lereinteforodesoriiefl und sloarn in :let in Fig. 5. i'" is :t :fnmntpiA sinlihtr1:; appearance to pipe 22, mwi is there. tuin u syrometrieai @f4-arance.1t willi of course, he understood that this pipe and ."z muy heintr-fluid with ronp-,ii f tno .su-mnt in or r ttm; 1 ma! 'rseiletnfsheu A .ieu iwnaninng the '-nitiin .WW vn-.

,"Io electrically connect the motor within the casing to the conductorwires I provide a contact plate or transmission disk 32, adapted to belocated under the table cloth where the fountain is adapted for use on atable. This disk is formed with grooves' 33 through which the conductorwires 33* are adapted to extend to the center of the disk. The disk isalso formed in its under side with a recess 34 in which two springcontact plates 35 are secured, said contact lates being arranved abovethe lower su ace of' the plate so tast thev will not contact with thesurface of the table. The outer end of each of these )lates is providedwith an upward extending needle pointI 36 which extends upward through aperforation in the disk, and through the table cloth, when said disk isarranged under a cloth. These points are line and will readily passthrough a table or other cloth without injuryv thereto. 'lhe inner endsof the cenducor wires are connected to the inner sides of the contactplates. The pedestal or casing of the fountain is so placed over thetransmission disk or contact plate that the contact. points carried bythe pedestal willrest upon the contact points 36 carried by the springplates. The upward pressure ol' the spring plates forces the nee-v ulepoints against the contact plates carriedx by the casLg so that a oodelectrical con-I tact is made, and at t le. same time the springs permitthe needles to be depressed so t iat the fountain will be level and mayrest on the table cloth. Instead ofsecuring the spring contact platesinl the transmission disk 32 I may desire to secure saidfsprinr contactplates to the bottom ol' the pedestal as shown in Fig. 8, and in thisview 35 .are the Contact plates; 36- the needle points carrie-d thereby.The transmission disk is provided with contact plates 13* to which theconductor wires are suitably connected; and the wires 12 are connectedto the sp1-ino' con- .tact plates 35l and to the motor. As `sihown in'F1g. 1 the basin is formed as ail-integral art. of the supportinpedestal-or base.

In Fig. 9 the top o the motor containing casing 1c forms the entirebottom of the basin, and the motor conta' the casing appears to bemerely aparte the basin,'in

stead of a supporting pedestal. In this arrangement-o the parts,supporting legs 1d are employed. The to 1J of the casing l might betermed a false )ottoni for the basin, the apparent bottom of the basinbeing the bottom of the supporting casing. By this means the motor 1svery close to the pump', and the mot-or shaft can be made very short.-This is very desirable for obvious reasons. The bottom of the casing lis Aclosed by a hinged door 1* by which access to the motor may be had,a suitable catch being provided to hold said door in itseclosedposition. The

bottom piece 5* of themotor supporting l l i l frame 4 is provided withan upward extending lubricating cup t5xi in which is arranged a bearingball 7 the lower end of the motor shaftbearing against said ball. Thelubricating cup is formed near its upper end, with an inward extendingwall S through which the motor shaft extends and by which said shaftcentered on the bearing ball. The lubricating cup to a. point above thewall 8 is filled with grease or other su table lubricating material. themotor shaft is slightly smaller in diameter than the interior of thetubular extension 14 of the head 3*l and the space sur'- rounding saidshaft is filled with a lubricat- In this form of the device,

ing compound or material, such as grease.

Wlthin said tubular, extension and head is arranged a spiral coil ofwire 14"- which, preferably, is in the form of a spring. This spiral isattached to the tubular extension by solder, pr in any other suit ablemanner, and the motor shaft extends through it. It will thus be seenthat the spiral forms a means for supporting the 'lubricating material,land as a caring for the shaft. It also supports the ,shaft in thelubricatin material, and with a very slight bearing su ace. instead offorcing the water to a singlel elevated central nozzle, I may in somecases, prefer to have a series of nozzles 23* around the periphery orouter margin of the basin, as shown in Fig. 9.

-T hesel nozzles may be arranged to deliver the water to an elevatedcentral cup, as indicated in dotted lines in said figure. It will, ofcourse, be understood that if desired, the jet regulating nozzle, suchas shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 6, may be used in the arrangement of jetsshown in Fig. 9.

In Figs. 10 anc 11, are shown slightly different forms of centering andlubricatinv' devices for the u per portion of motor shaft. A'sshown inig. 10, the head 3 is formed with a recess 3b. To the motor shaft, belowsaid head,is attached a Cup 3". This cup extends up into said recess and`receives the lubricatingcompound. Apertures 3* are formed through theinner tubular part of thel head 3 to receive the lubricatingcompound,

the apertures being provided through which the compounds may ass to themotor shaft. lt will thus be seen, t iat by providing means for holdinga supply of lubricant around the motor shaft, near its ends,the,n 1otormay be run for a long period of time without the mr cessity olrer-lubrication.

The form of the apparatus illustrated in F ig. 9 is especially adaptedfor large fountains, where, if the mot-onwcre mount-ed in a base orpedestal below the basin, or what a ears to be thebasin, the motors'haft wou dA e too long to obtain the best results, but so far as theprinciple of the inventionis concern'ed, it will, of course,.beunderstood, that the two constructions shown are the mechanicalequivalents of each other.

By suspending the motor as described I largely overcome the noise or hummade by the rotating armature. lt will be noted that bythe peculiarconstmction of the motor and pump no )ecial care will be required inassembling tie parts or in alining the armature shaft and the pumpshaft, the pump and armature shaft being practically one solid piece.

From the fore roing itwill be seen that I pro` vide a verysimp lelectric motor and pump for operaing the fountain; and that thesefountains maybe used for table or other decorations with novel andartist-ic effects. It will be noted that the water or other liquid usedin the fountain will not be wasted but will be. used over and overagain, so' that it may ne perfumed or tinted or both to secure thedesired effect. A It will be apparent that an endless number andvariet)r of designs of supporting casings, basins and nozzles can bemade; and that different types of rotary pumps may be employed withoutdeparting from the scope of my invention. It will, of course, be.understood, that the motor and the pump may be located in any convenientposition within casini. It is also clear that the fountain may oe placedon anornamental bracket or on a staudor pedestal in hallways, receptionrooms and the, like'.

Having thus described my invention, what I clai .1 as new and desire tosecure by Letters Pat-ent, is

l. An elect-.c fountain comprising a basin, a central tubular vlugdctachably connected to said basin at the bot-tom thereof and extendingto a point above the normal water level thereof, its lower end carryinga depending motor frame below the basin, a motor shaft extending upwardthrough said 'tubular plug and carrying at its lower end witlun thcmotor frame the motor armature, a rotary -pump within the basin, meansconnecting,r

said pump to the motor shaft above the tubular plug, a nozzle, and meansfor delivering the fluid from the pump to said nozzle.

2. An electric. fountain comprising a basin,

Aa central tubular plug detachably connected to said basin at the bottomthereof, its lower end carrying a depending motor frame below the basin,a motor shaft extending upward through said tubular plug and carrying atits lower end within the motor frame the motor '-::aature, a rotary pumpwithin the basin,

sus cbnnectng the send pump to the inowf --haft above thrtubular plug, anozzle, :.r-f: -zoansfor de vering the Huid from the wenn tojsaidrenale. `f u electric-mom ivf comprising a basin, :enti-il tuhuar plugif-tachalil) connected -ao oas-in at the betom thereof, its lower l endcarrying a depending motor frame below the basin, a motor shaftextending upward through said tubular plug and carrying at its lower endwithin the motor frame the motor armature, a rotary pump within thebasin, means connecting the said pump to the ino-- tor shaft above thetubular dug, a nozzle, means for deliveringr the fluid iront the pump tosaidnozzle, and a bearing fi .ned on the lower )art of thearmattire-supporting frame and adapted to receive the lower end of thearmature shaft.

4. An electric fountain.comprising a basin, a central tubular plugdetachably connected to said basin at the bottom thereof, its'lower endcarrying a depending motor frame helow the basin, a motor shaftextending npward through said tubular plug and carrying at its lower endwithin the motor frame the motor arunxture, a rotary ump within thebasin, means connecting t 1e said pump lo the motor shaft above thetubular plug, a nozzle., means for delivering the lluid from the pump tosaid nozzle, a'bearing formed on the lower part of thearmature-sulmorting fre'ue and adapted. to receive the lower end of thearmature shaft, and means for maintaining a supply of lubricant aroundthe inotor shaft above and below the armature.

5. An electric fountain comprising a basin, a central tubular plugdetachably connected to said basin at the bottom thereof and extendingto a point above the normal water level thereof, is lower end carrying adepending motor frame below the basin, a motor shaft extending upwardthrough said tubular plug and carrying at its lower end within the motorframe the motor armature, a rotary pump within thc basin, meansconnecting said pump to the motor shaft above the tubular plug, anozzle, means for varyin ihc discharge from the nozzle, whereby Sainozzle may bc used as a governor device.

An electric fountain comprising a basin, a central tubular plugdetachably connected to said basin at the bottom thereof and extendingto a point above the normal water level thereof, its lower end carryinga depending motor frame belowthe basin, a motor shaft extending upwardthrough said tubular plug and carrying at its lower end within themotorframe the motor armature, a ro tary pump within the basin, meansconnecting said pump to the motor shaft above the tubular dug, a nozzle,means for delivering the ilui from the pump to said nozzle, anadjustable cap forming part of the nozzle and by which the dischargefrom the nozzle may be varied.

7. Au electric fountain comprising a basin, a central tubular plugdetachably connected to said basin at the imttontthereof, its lower endcarrying a. depending motor frame below the basin, a motor shaftextending upward through said tubular plug and carrying at its lower endwithin ho motorframe the mot-or armature, s. rotary? pump Wllnm tlg@basin, means connoctmp; clic said pump to the motor shaft above fh@tubular plug, n nozzle,

electrical supply,

firougli aperturas in thc disk and adaptcd Lo ongagc vonoct nlutcs inthc liaise, and means for conncc ing L c spring platos t-o n source of8. An el tric fountain uomprisingn basin, a central uifular ,lugdefachably connor-,lcd

t-o said basin at -t ic bottom thereof and cxtending to a point abovethe nox-mol water level thereof, its lower end carrying a dcpcndingmotor frame below the basin, a. motor shaft extending upward lhroughsaid 'Lubular plug and4 carrying at its lower end within the. nxoorframe the motor armature, a ro tary pump Within the basin, moons connecting said pump Lo the motor shaftnbovc the inliulnr ilng, a. nozzle,moans for delivering tho luio frozr me pump to said nozzlefan u wardextenn lubricating cup carried by t e lowsr cud of t e motor-supportingframe spring pianos-:imi adapted to project. up

and adapted to receive Athe'lower end of the armutureshnt, a ball insaid cup to sup ort thc shaft, and means for centering said s aft onsaid ball.

'9. An eloctx'ic fountain comprising a basin, a central tubular nlugdetachably connected to said i12/sin at lle lmttomthercof and cxtenclingto s oin above. the normal water level tile-roof, its lower end carryinga depend- .ing mol-or frame below the basin, a mot-or shaft extendingupward through said tubular ping and. co frying at. its lower end withinthe ,-inotor frame thc motor armature, said shaft being snr-.aller indiamctventhan the. interior diameter of tiic tubular.' lug', a spirallubri- Cani supp-Orr Within sniiij tubular plug and rigidly securedchereto, said spiral bndgin the space between the armaiure shaft an theinterior-all of the tubular luv', whereby saidspiral Wil form a hearingor ille shaft, a rot-ary pump within the basin, means connecting said fump to the motor shaft above the tulular p ug, a nozzlo, and means fordelivering the fluid from the pump to said nozzle. .f

In testimon whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in tlie rcsence of twowitnesses this 24th day of' anuary 1906.

HEBBT A. Ross, Com A. STEIN.

